Device for open end spinning

ABSTRACT

Apparatus for spinning yarn provided with a cup shaped turbine, having an open end face and located within an enclosed housing. A feed tube mounted to impinge a fiber stream on to the inner wall of the turbine. A baffle is interposed between the feed tube and the turbine having a guide slot defined by at least one vertical wall, adapted to deflect the fiber stream. The baffle is rotatably mounted to adjust the wall relative to the fiber stream to thus vary the degree of deflection.

United States Patent 1191 Bartling et al.

1451 Dec. 18, 1973 [54] DEVICE FOR OPEN END SPINNING 3,457,716 7/1969 Storek et al. 57/58.:39 [75] Inventors: hard an ng, Burgstau; Rudolf 3,339,359 9/l967 Rlpka et al. 57/58.89

Schon, Stuttgart, both of Germany FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS Assignee: Kugenagerfabriken 477,259 l2/l937 Great Britain 57/58.)l

Schweinfurt, Germany Primary Examiner-Donald E. Watkins [22] Flled: June 201 1972 Att0rneyMurray Schaffer et al. [2]] Appl. No.: 264,530

[57] ABSTRACT [30] Foreign Application Priority Data Apparatus for spinning yarn provided with a cup June 21, 1971 Germany P 21 30 738.0 Shaped Whine having an open end face and located within an enclosed housing. A feed tube mounted to 521 (1.5. CI. 57/5895 impinge a fiber stream en t0 the inner wall of the 511 Int. Cl DOlh 1/12 bihe A baffle is interposed between the feed tube and [58] Field at Search 57/1, 34 R, 58.89-58.95 the turbine having a guide elet defined y at least one vertical wall, adapted to deflect the fiber stream. The 5 References Cited baffle is rotatably mounted to adjust the wall relative UNITED STATES PATENTS to the fiber stream to thus vary the degree of deflect 3,624,994 l2/l97l 1 Rohlena et al 57/5895 X Ion 3,620,002 1 H1971 Grishin 57/58.89 11 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures MM w o xzqfilqh'r l8 I 1 I 11 1 1' 1 1s 1 I I r 1' 6 1 I 4 I l lo LI 1 1 r 1 I '1 1 l 32 I I l I 3L 22 30 36 PATENTED DEC] 8 I973 sum 1 or 5 PATENTEU DEC 18 1975 saw 2 0F 3 PATENTEB DEC] 8 I975 DEVICE FOR OPEN END SPINNING BACKGROUND OF INVENTION The present invention relates to apparatus for spinning yarn employing a cup shaped turbine located in an enclosed housing which is under vacuum. The turbine has an open end face in which a baffle is arranged in order to regulate the stream of fibers fed to the turbine.

In German publication DOS No. 1,940,199 a twisting device is disclosed in which the fiber baffle is provided with a vertical wall which extends from its periphery to its central hub. The fibers, fed to the turbine, are directed over the baffle which serves primarily to regulate the air stream within the twisting space of the turbine but particularly prevents the winding of the fibers about the hub or support of the baffle, so that knots or nubs of fiber are avoided and the fiber stream remains uniform and regular. This arrangement has been found suitable for only certain types of fibers. For most types of fibers, it has been found to be inadequate, and the baffle has had to be made in numerous sizes and arrangements so that a different baffle has to be inserted in the apparatus for each particular fiber composition.

Another disadvantage of the prior devices lies in the fact that the many foreign particles, pulp, etc., carried by the fiber stream, even after normal cleaning, remain in the stream and are not removed before spinning. It would be desireable to be able to remove such particles prior to the actual spinning.

It isthe object of the present invention to provide spinning apparatus of the type described overcoming the defects and disadvantages of the prior devices.

It is another object of the present invention to provide spinning apparatus which is simple in construction and which may be used, without any change or modification with deficeint type fibers.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide a device in which the removing of extraneous and unwanted particles is effected just prior to the spinning operation.

These objects, as well as others, together with numerous advantages for the present invention will be seen in the following disclosure.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to the present invention, apparatus for spinning yarn is provided wherein a cup shaped turbine or spinning rotor is rotatably journalled within an enclosed housing maintained under vacuum. A feed tube delivering fibers is mounted to impinge the fibers on the inner wall of the turbine. A baffle is interposed between the feed tube and the turbine serving primarily to regulate the air stream and flow of fibers into the turbine. The baffle is located within the end face opening of the turbine in a plane perpendicular to the axis of rotation thereof and is provided with a slot for guiding the fibers from the feed tube to the turbine. The slot is defined by at least one vertical wall depending from the baffle. The baffle is rotatable about its central axis to selectively vary the angle that the vertical wall makes with respect to the axis of the projection of the feed tube so that the fiber stream may be caused to be de flected from its path toward the chamber.

Preferably, the baffle comprised a disk having a hole at its center mounted at the end of the hollow hub which is journalled within the housing. The finished yarn is adapted to be withdrawn through the hole and hub. Advantageous results are obtained when the vertical wall defining the slot is arranged chordally of the disk and either extending from the hub or passing outside of it so that rotation of the baffle will cause the wall to move selectively within a range limited by two positions, the first being substantially parallel to the projection of the axis of the feed tube and the second being substantially perpendicular thereto. In this manner the degree of the angular deflection is regulated.

Furthermore, the surface of the guide slot may be inclined from the center of the baffie to its periphery to permit heavy particles, deflected by the vertical wall, to adopt a different ballistic trajectory enabling them to be removed by suction through an circumferential annulus between the turbine wall and the front wall without destroying or affecting the fiber feed stream. This enables the fiber stream to be effectively aftercleansed.

In another embodiment of the invention the slot may be formed in a wedge shape sector generally having a V-shape in plan view. In this embodiment the vertical wall is preferred to englarge or have an increasing height from the hub to the periphery of the baffle. The V-shaped slot may have a second vertical wall which is formed like the first or one which conforms to the thickness of the baffle disk by allowing the guidesurface to rise in an incline upwardly from the first wall.

In still another embodiment a second vacuum is impressed in the housing, via means extending through the baffle on to the inner face of the baffle, in the turbine. In this manner the turbine may be cleansed, either during operation or in those intervals between operation, of any residual impurities found therein.

Full particulars of the present invention will be seen in the following description and in the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a bottom plan view partially sectioned of a spinning apparatus embodying the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a vertical section through the device of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 and FIG. 4 are views similar to FIGS. II and 2, respectively, showing a modification of the device; and

FIGS. 5 and 6 are perspective views of two baffles employed in the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION In the embodiment seen in FIGS. 1 and 2 there is provided apparatus for spinning and twisting yarn from fibers of the open end turbine type, comprising a housing 32 in which a cup shaped turbine rotor 34 is completely enclosed. The rotoris closed except for an outwardly opening end face through which fibers enter and yarn exits. The housing 32 has a front wall 24 which defines an annular space 62 with lip of the turbine 34 and acts with housing 32 to provide an enclosed chamber 36 surrounding the turbine 34. An air exhaust port 38 ex tends outwardly from the chamber 36, through which it can be evacuated placing it under vacuum. The turbine 34 is mounted on the end of an axle 40 which is journalled in suitable bearings for high speed rotation within the housing 32. The drive whorl 42 is located at the end of the axle 40 and is drven by a belt 44 arranged to be, itself, driven by the conventional drive of the spinning machine.

Located within the mouth of the turbine 34 is a disklike fiber baffle or canopy 14 mounted at the end of a central hub 12 journalled in the front wall 24 coaxially with the drive axle 40. The baffle disk is mounted in a plane perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the turbine. The hub 12 has a bore or opening through which the finally spun thread or yarn 46 is withdrawn. A lever 16 is fixed to the outer end of the shaft 12, extending radially therefrom perpendicular to the axis of the hub 12. The free end of the lever 16 is pivotally connected to an actuator element 18 such as a pneumatic or hydraulic piston and cylinder which on command can be made to swing the lever 16 and thus the fiber baffle 14 in any position between two extreme limits defined by the angle a (FIG. 1).

Mounted within the front wall 24 at an angle to the outer face of the fiber baffle 14 is a fiber feed tube 20. The feed tube 20 terminates in an opening 22 (seen in broken lines in FIG. 1) and projects axially toward the inner fiber spinning space 26 of the turbine 34. The opening 22, as seen in FIG. 1, lies opposite to a chordal groove like cut out portion or slot in the outer face of the fiber baffle 14. The groove is defined by a vertical wall 28 and a wall 30 and further by an inclined or slanted guide surface bottem 50, which, with the front wall 24, opens toward the spinning wall 26 of the turbine 34. The wall 28 lies in a plane parallel to the plane of the turbine axis, while the wall 30 is parallel to wall 28. Walls 28 and 30 intersect the projection of the axis of the feed tube 20 to the turbine plane at an angle a. As noted before, the fiber baffle canopy 14 is rotated about its central axis under control of lever 16. As seen in FIG. 1, the wall 28 is arranged so that when the fiber canopy 14 is its one extreme position, the angle a is quite large. In this position, the wall 28 is preferably at right angles to the projection of the axis of the feed tube 20. The solid lines in FIG. 1 show one intermediate position where in the fiber stream follows the direction shown by arrows a and b in which the flow of fiber is detoured and bounced off the wall 28. In the other extreme position oflever 16 it is preferred that baffle 14 is moved so that the wall 28 is substantially parallel with the axis of the feed tube 20 so that the fibers will flow without detour on to the wall 26 of the turbine.

The angular displacement of the stream of fibers from the tube 20 to the wall 26 depends on the inclination of the wall 28 with respect to the projection of the axis of the feed tube 20 which may be selectively positioned. In any event it will be seen that the normal desireable fibers will follow this change in flow and be carried by the air stream to the turbine wall 26. However, heavier foreign particles, cellulose pulp, shell fragments, etc. found in the fiber stream will bounce off of and ricochet from the wall 28 through the annular space between the frontwall 24 and the turbine 34 by passing the turbine and falling into the chamber 36, through the annular space 62. These particles, because of their heavier weight, denseness and generally smaller size spin off from the fiber streams and may thus be carried off through the outlet pipe 38, which may itself be conviently connected to a source of vacuum or a suction pump. Thus the fiber stream can be effectively cleansed in an after-cleaning of foreign particles and other substances which are harmful when incorporated into the thread or yarn and yet which may have remained in the fiber supply even after the normal cleaning operations. The rotatable arrangements of the fiber baffle 14 permit different fiber streams to be cleansed according to their own individual characteristics. By arranging the fiber baffle 14 so that the wall 28 is situated at a predetermined angle with respect to the axis of the fiber feed tube 20 optimal ballistic trajectories for the fiber can be obtained, cleansing the particular fiber of the maximum amount of foreign matter. Since the lever 16 may be positioned anywhere within the angle range a, the wall 28 may also be aligned in any position. The adjustment of baffle has a further advantage in that the selective positioning of the vertical wall 28 modifies the air current flow within the apparatus and thus further regulates the speed of the fiber stream and its deposition in the turbines, over the guide surface 50.

The spinning device operates in other respects as any conventional open end turbine or spinerette. The fibers are blown and/or sucked trough tube 20 where they impinge on wall 26. The rotating turbine 34 causes spinning of the fiber into a yarn or thread 46 which is withdrawn through the bore 10 in the shaft 12. A pair of nip rollers 48 pulls the yarn 46 while the vacuum through tube 38 removes impurities in accordance with the present invention.

The ability to obtain an effective after-cleansing may be had with differently formed fiber baffles. In FIG. 6 one such modified baffle is seen, in which the slot is V- shaped forming a wedge sector cut-out on the bottom surface of the disk and limited on one side by a tapering vertical wall 28 passing from the periphery to the shaft 12 and whose height decreases from the outside to the shaft 12. The apex of the slot preferably terminates in the hub or shaft 12. The bottom of the slot forms a fiber guide plane 50 which is inclined upward and terminates in a radial line 58 coextensive with the outer face 60 of the fiber baffle 14. Thus the incline is both radial and circumferential.

In still another embodiment seen in FIGS. 3 and 4 a second suction conduit 52 is provided which leads through an opening 54 in the front closing face 24 of the housing. Furthermore, an opening 56 is provided in the fiber baffle 14 conforming in size and location to the opening 54. According to the position of the lever 16, the opening 56 in the fiber baffle 14 more or less covers the opening 54 from a position wherein the openings are fully aligned to a position where they are offest and out of alignment. When in the extreme of the latter position, the suction line 52 is fully closed. The advantage of this arrangement is such that either or both lines 38 or 52 may be used to supply suction or they may be used operatively to obtain selective application of suction by increasing or decreasing the level of one or the other. It is also possible to use the suction line 38 for normal operation and the suction line 52 for cleansing the turbine interior itself during intervals of stoppage in operation. During these intervals, the fiber ring which normally is deposited within the turbine can be sucked off. Less suction is required for this operation since these fibers need not be sucked through the annular gap 62 between the turbine and housing front 24.

FIG. 5 shows a fiber canopy combining the features of the embodiments of FIGS. 3, 4, and 6. Here, however, the wedge shaped groove is defined by vertical walls 28 and 30 and whose surface 50 tapers only from the edge to the center shaft 12. The fiber canopy seen in this figure also has the hole 56. The height of the face 50 is uniform at the periphery of the canopy.

It will be seen from the foregoing that the provision of a rotatable or adjustable baffle having a vertical wall on which the fiber stream may impinge provides several advantages over the prior art devices. Regulation of air and fiberflow, after-cleansing of the fiber stream, and regulation of the deposition of fibers are among those advantages enumerated. i

It is especially advantageous when the baffle is adjustable between extreme open and closed positions (i.e.: the vertical wall perpendicular or parallel to the projection of the feed tube axis) so that a wide range of adjustment is possible. The inclined guide or bottom surface 50 of the slot, combined with the vertical wall, also enables the separation of unwanted pulp, shell fibe'rous bodies, etc. by effectively changing their trajectory or direction of travel, in a very simple and effective manner. Further, the small annular gap 62 between the lip of the turbine and the front panel creates a strong unidirectional current flow, as a result of the suction which removes the harmful pulp, etc. from the turbine proper.

Tests have shown that most effective after-cleansing occurs when the wall 28 ispositioned within an angular range a where at one extreme the wall 28 is almost but not at right angles to the projection of the axis of the feed tube (i.e.: also the stream of fibers) and another extreme position where the extension of the outer surface of the feed tube opening 22 meets the extension of the wall 28 at a point which lies on a circle coaxial with the turbine and of a diameter at least equal to the largest diameter of the turbine itself. If this angle a is exceeded too much, blockage of the fiber stream occurs, and if it is less than the minimum suggested, not enough after-cleansing occurs. Within this range, effective cleansing occurs relative to speed of fiber flow, type of fibers, etc.

The .V-shaped wedge sector, also provides advantages in that for synthetic fibers or heavy fibers the funnel-like slot is most benificial. The slot may also be made eccentrically of the hub or shaft 12 so that it extends chordally of the disk with the two walls 28 and parallel to each other.

Unlike prior devices wherein the front of the turbine is closed by the housing, the spaced front plate 24 of the present invention permits the removal of the impurities before they become entrained with the spinned yarn. They may be easily sucked off by the primary suction means after being ricocheted off the vertical wall 28 and over the lip of the turbine. The provision of the secondary suction communicating with the interior of the turbine also permits the interior to be easily cleansed, without the need for excessive and time consuming dismantling of the apparatus and its breakdown for repair. Suitable pneumatic control devices, valves, timers, etc. can be employed to program the secondary suction, and to,depending on the position of the baffle, provide a sufficient vacuum for cleaning.

Various other modifications and changes will readily lend themselves to those skilled in the present art. The present disclosure is intended therefore to be illustrative only and not limiting of the present invention.

The application is a companion to and relates to apparatus shown and described in each of the following U. S. applications, all filed on even date hereof and reference is made to the specifications, claims and drawings of each and their disclosures incorporated herein, as if more fully set out herein: 1

Ser. No. 264,528 corres. to German Appln. P 21 30 739.1, Wilhelm Braun, Mounting Apparatus for Spinning Assembly Ser. No. 264,527 corres. to German Appln. P 21 30 690.1, Gerhard Bartling, Method and Apparatus for Joining Broken Ends Ser. No. 264,529 corres. to German Appln. P 21 30 722.2, Rudolf Schon, Apparatus for the Spindleless Spinning of Textile Fibers Ser. No. 264,531 corres. to German Appln. P 21 30 724.4, Rudolf Schon, Apparatus for Withdrawing Thread Ser. No. 264,450 corres. to German Appln. P 21 30 725.5, Gerhard Bartling, Spindleless Spinning Machines The German applications were all filed on June 21, 1971. The assignee is common to all.

What is claimed:

1. Apparatus for spinning yarn comprising a housing, a cup shaped turbine having an open side and rotatably journalled within said housing, means for feeding a stream of fibers to said turbine, a baffle interposed between said feed means and said turbine to direct said fibers onto said turbine, said baffle being arranged within the open side of said turbine in a plane perpendicular to the axis thereof and having a slot defined by at least one vertical wall extending from the baffle to guide said fibers, said baffle being rotatable about the axis of said turbine to selectively vary the angle of said vertical wall relative to the axis of said feed means whereby the said fibers may be caused to be deflected from their path.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said housing forms a hollow chamber enclosing said turbine, and includes means for withdrawing air under vacuum therefrom, said housing having a front wall defining with the open side of said turbine a circumferential annulus for flow of air.

3. Apparatus according to claim 2 wherein said baffle comprises an annular disk mounted at the end of a hollow shaft, said baffle being journalled on its shaft within the front wall of said housing to rotate about the axis of said turbine, the yarn formed therein being withdrawn through said hollow shaft.

4. Apparatus according to claim 3 including a lever extending radially from said hub perpendicular to the axis thereof, motive means connected to the free end of said lever, said motive means being adapted to swing said lever to rotate said hub and disk between the two extreme positions thereof.

5. Apparatus according to claim 4 wherein said one vertical wall extends chordally of said disk and wherein said disk is rotatable to move said vertical wall between a first position wherein said wall is substantially parallel to the axis of projection of said feed tube and a second position wherein said wall is substantially perpendicular thereto.

6. Apparatus according to claim 5 wherein said slot has a bottom surface, said surface being inclined with respect to the plane of said disk.

7. Apparatus according to claim 6 wherein said one vertical wall passes through the hub of said disk and increases in height from said hub to the periphery of said disk.

means for withdarwing air from said chamber, said second means extending within the cup shaped turbine.

11. Apparatus according to claim 10 wherein said second means for withdrawing air includes a conduit extending through said front wall, and a hole arranged within said disk, said conduit and said hole being aligned in one extreme position of rotation of said disk and out of alignment in the other extreme position. 

1. Apparatus for spinning yarn comprising a housing, a cup shaped turbine having an open side and rotatably journalled within said housing, means for feeding a stream of fibers to said turbine, a baffle interposed between said feed means and said turbine to direct said fibers onto said turbine, said baffle being arranged within the open side of said turbine in a plane perpendicular to the axis thereof and having a slot defined by at least one vertical wall extending from the baffle to guide said fibers, said baffle beIng rotatable about the axis of said turbine to selectively vary the angle of said vertical wall relative to the axis of said feed means whereby the said fibers may be caused to be deflected from their path.
 2. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said housing forms a hollow chamber enclosing said turbine, and includes means for withdrawing air under vacuum therefrom, said housing having a front wall defining with the open side of said turbine a circumferential annulus for flow of air.
 3. Apparatus according to claim 2 wherein said baffle comprises an annular disk mounted at the end of a hollow shaft, said baffle being journalled on its shaft within the front wall of said housing to rotate about the axis of said turbine, the yarn formed therein being withdrawn through said hollow shaft.
 4. Apparatus according to claim 3 including a lever extending radially from said hub perpendicular to the axis thereof, motive means connected to the free end of said lever, said motive means being adapted to swing said lever to rotate said hub and disk between the two extreme positions thereof.
 5. Apparatus according to claim 4 wherein said one vertical wall extends chordally of said disk and wherein said disk is rotatable to move said vertical wall between a first position wherein said wall is substantially parallel to the axis of projection of said feed tube and a second position wherein said wall is substantially perpendicular thereto.
 6. Apparatus according to claim 5 wherein said slot has a bottom surface, said surface being inclined with respect to the plane of said disk.
 7. Apparatus according to claim 6 wherein said one vertical wall passes through the hub of said disk and increases in height from said hub to the periphery of said disk.
 8. Apparatus according to claim 6 wherein said slot is formed as a V-shaped cut-out having its apex terminating the hub of said baffle, and having a bottom guide surface forming a wedge shaped sector.
 9. Apparatus according to claim 8 wherein the bottom guide surface inclines upwardly from said one vertical wall to terminate in a line coplanar with the surface of said disk.
 10. Apparatus according to claim 3 including second means for withdarwing air from said chamber, said second means extending within the cup shaped turbine.
 11. Apparatus according to claim 10 wherein said second means for withdrawing air includes a conduit extending through said front wall, and a hole arranged within said disk, said conduit and said hole being aligned in one extreme position of rotation of said disk and out of alignment in the other extreme position. 